Hybrid work is increasingly a reality and less and less a trend. In fact, both in Italy and in the rest of Europe, the demand from those looking for a job is directed towards companies that aim to offer this opportunity.
And this despite the fact that many large companies are ‘pushing’ to return to working from the office as was done before the pandemic.
According to recent research by Indeed, a specialized portal for job searches, the share of searches for remote and hybrid work has more than quadrupled compared to pre-pandemic levels and has increased by 12.8% since the beginning of the year (from 1.97% in January 2024 to 2.22% in July 2024). At the same time, many companies continue to offer hybrid or remote work options: the share of job advertisements on Indeed in Italy that contemplate this working method has stabilized at around 10% in 2024, a significantly higher share than the 2.5% pre-pandemic.
In short, something has changed in the mentality of those looking for work, but this new need is starting to be clearly perceived by those who offer work.
Hybrid work, the situation in Italy and Europe
Also according to the data collected by Indeed, in our country, at the end of July 2024, the historical maximum of hybrid job searches was reached, equal to 2.2% of the total searches carried out. This represents an increase of 1.95% from January 2020 and of 0.25% compared to the beginning of 2024, indicating that the percentage of workers interested in the possibilities offered by hybrid work is constantly expanding.
The trend is similar in the rest of Europe. In particular, there is an increasing trend, with the peak of searches for hybrid work recorded at the end of July 2024 in Germany (3.3%) and Spain (2.8%). Although the trend has stabilized in the United Kingdom and France, there is still a deep-rooted interest in hybrid work also on the part of workers in these countries.
Pawel Adrijan, Director of Economic Research, EMEA, Indeed, commented: “Candidates remain very interested in remote and hybrid working, so it’s no surprise that companies continue to offer it. It’s clear that while the use of hybrid working models was initially expanded to cope with the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, this way of working is here to stay. Remote and hybrid working continues to be at the forefront in Europe, cementing itself as a mode of work that is popular with both companies and candidates. It started with large companies, but is no longer unique to them. We are also seeing continued adoption in Italy, for example, where the economic fabric is comprised of a high percentage of small and medium-sized businesses. The limited mobility caused by rising real estate costs in large cities and the impact of inflation on wages make remote working an attractive option for those seeking flexibility and a better work-life balance.”
This article is originally published on uomoemanager.it
